Farfetch Announces Third Quarter 2019 Results

• Exceeds Q3 2019 Guidance – Beats on Both Digital Platform GMV and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
• Strong Outlook for Q4 2019 – Raises Expectations for Adjusted EBITDA and Reiterates Platform GMV Growth Rate
• Continued to Expand Share of Online Luxury Market – Q3 2019 Digital Platform GMV of $420 million, Up 37% Year-Over-Year, or approximately 40% on Constant Currency Basis
• Stronger Unit Economics – Digital Platform Order Contribution Margin Up to 31% and Gross Margin to 45% in Q3 2019, From 28% and 41%, Respectively, in Q2 2019
• Adjusted EBITDA Loss Margin Improved to (16)% from (29)%, Loss After Tax Margin Improved to (33)% from (57)% Year-Over-Year
• Expands Direct Brand and Boutique Network to More Than 1,200 Partners, Maintains 100% Retention of Top 100 Brand Partners Over Past Three Years
• New Guards Group Contributes to Q3 Financial Performance, Integrations with Marketplace and Farfetch Platform Solutions Underway

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Farfetch Limited (NYSE: FTCH), the leading global technology platform for the luxury fashion industry, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

José Neves, Farfetch Founder, CEO and Co-Chair said: “I am very pleased with our continued progress in building the global platform for luxury. We had a fantastic Q3, beating all our expectations, and continuing to capture market share at a rapid pace. With $1.8 billion of Digital Platform GMV and 1.9 million Active Consumers over the last twelve months, Farfetch is firmly established as the #1 in-season luxury player online. Through our revolutionary technology, services and reach, we will continue to deliver an amazing service to our community of over 1,200 brands and boutiques, while also delighting fashion lovers around the world. We also remain focused on driving the cultural relevance of the Farfetch brand, and in that context I am delighted with our initial progress in integrating New Guards Group. A huge congratulations to all the brilliant Farfetchers who have worked so relentlessly across our global business to achieve these remarkable results.”

Elliot Jordan, CFO of Farfetch, said: “Our third quarter 2019 results demonstrate focused execution against our core strategy, which resulted in strong digital platform GMV growth of 37% year-over-year, extending our market leading position, balanced with Order Contribution Margin increasing quarter-over-quarter to 31.3%. We are also pleased by the early strategic and financial benefits from the acquisition of New Guards Group, which, coupled with the stronger unit economics and continued operating leverage in our digital platform, have contributed to a significant year-over-year improvement in EBITDA margin.”

Consolidated Financial Summary and Key Operating Metrics (in thousands, except per share data or AOV):

See “Metrics Definitions” on page 17 for further explanations, including the renaming of previous “Platform” metrics to “Digital Platform” metrics. See “Non-IFRS and Other Financial and Operating Metrics” for reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.

Recent Business Highlights

• Continued to add breadth and depth to the Farfetch Marketplace offering through expanded partnerships with luxury brands and retailers:
  • Top 10 brands supply more than doubled year-over-year as of the end of third quarter 2019; also increased supply points with existing brand partner, Saint Laurent, in the US, Canada and Mexico
  • Signed new e-concessions with Golden Goose and Sunglass Hut, among others, bringing total brand partner count to just under 500, and maintained 100% retention of top 100 direct brand partners over past three years
  • Integrated New Guards Group on the Marketplace – all New Guards Group brands including Off-White and Marcelo Burlon County of Milan now leveraging Fulfilment by Farfetch and selling directly on the Marketplace as e-concessions
  • Grew boutique network to more than 700 retailers, bringing total direct brand and retail partners to more than 1,200

• Further distinguished Farfetch’s Marketplace as a premium destination for global luxury consumers while also helping advance Prada’s direct-to-consumer distribution initiative as their exclusive third-party partner in offering its Linea Rossa collection for Autumn/Winter 2019
• In August 2019, extended the Farfetch platform with the completion of the acquisition of New Guards Group, a luxury fashion platform with a proven track record of launching culturally relevant and profitable brands including Palm Angels, Heron Preston, Marcelo Burlon County of Milan, and Off-White, which was recently ranked #1 Hottest Brand in Q3 2019 by The Lyst Index. Addition of New Guards Group further elevates Farfetch’s Marketplace proposition for fashion lovers worldwide with the broadest selection and exclusive access to capsule collections from their portfolio of brands, and brings expertise to launch new brands
• Along with 55 other leaders in the fashion industry including Kering, Chanel, Hermes, Burberry and Stella McCartney, signed The Fashion Pact, aimed at setting practical objectives for reducing the industry’s impact on the environment. Also furthered Farfetch’s Positively Farfetch focus on sustainability with the launch of two new initiatives:
  • A new Positively Conscious destination on Farfetch.com offers an inspirational way to discover and shop the broadest selection of sustainable luxury products
  • Extended our Positively Circular initiative by partnering with Dream Assembly alumnus, Thrift+, to offer UK customers an on-demand clothing donation service through which they can earn Farfetch credits

Third Quarter 2019 Results Summary

Gross Merchandise Value (in thousands):

Gross Merchandise Value (“GMV”) increased by $182.0 million from $310.0 million in third quarter 2018 to $492.0 million in third quarter 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 58.7%. Digital Platform GMV increased by $114.4 million from $305.9 million in third quarter 2018 to $420.3 million in third quarter 2019, representing year-over-year growth of 37.4%. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, Digital Platform GMV would have increased by approximately 39.7%.

The increase in GMV primarily reflects the growth in Digital Platform GMV and the addition of $62.7 million of Brand Platform GMV from New Guards Group which we acquired in August 2019. The increase in Digital Platform GMV was primarily driven by increases in Active Consumers to 1.9 million and average number of orders, partially offset by decreases in Average Order Values. Other contributing factors included an increase in the number of clients supported by Farfetch Platform Solutions, growth in transactions through our managed websites and the addition of Stadium Goods, our premier sneaker and streetwear Marketplace.

Revenue (in thousands):

Revenue increased by $121.0 million year-over-year from $134.5 million in third quarter 2018 to $255.5 million in third quarter 2019, representing growth of 89.9%. The increase was primarily driven by 44.0% growth in Digital Platform Services Revenue to $156.5 million and the addition of Brand Platform Revenue from New Guards Group. In-Store Revenue increased by 121.9% to $9.1 million primarily due to the addition of revenue from New Guards Group’s directly-operated stores and growth in Browns stores.

The increase in Digital Platform Services Revenue of 44.0% was driven by 37.4% growth in Digital Platform GMV, partially offset by a decline in Third-Party Take Rate to 31.2% in third quarter 2019, from 32.1% in the prior year quarter. Digital Platform Services Revenue was also boosted by growth in first-party GMV, which nearly doubled year-on-year and is included in Digital Platform Services Revenue at 100% of the GMV.

Digital Platform Fulfilment Revenue represents the pass-through of delivery and duties charges incurred by our global logistics solutions, net of any customer promotions and incentives funded by the Company. Whilst Digital Platform Fulfilment Revenue would be expected to grow in line with the cost of delivery and duties, which increase as Digital Platform GMV and order volumes grow, an increase in the level of promotions and incentives funded by the company will decrease Digital Platform Fulfilment Revenue. In third quarter 2019, Digital Platform Fulfilment Revenue increased 25.0%, a slower rate as compared to the cost of shipping and duties, primarily due to an increase in customer promotions year-over-year in response to the market environment. However, the impact of promotions in the quarter was lower than that in second quarter 2019, reflecting our strategic decision to reduce promotional activity.

Cost of Revenue (in thousands)

Cost of revenue increased by $73.2 million, or 109.0% year-over-year from $67.2 million in third quarter 2018 to $140.3 million in third quarter 2019. The increase was primarily driven by growth in first-party GMV and the associated cost of goods, delivery costs associated with order fulfilment, duties incurred on cross-border transactions, cost of goods sold related to our In-Store revenue and the addition of Brand Platform cost of revenue related to New Guards Group.

Gross Profit (in thousands)

Gross profit increased by $47.8 million, or 70.9% year-over-year from $67.4 million in third quarter 2018 to $115.1 million in third quarter 2019, primarily due to the growth in our Digital Platform Services Revenue and the addition of New Guards Group’s Brand Platform operations. Gross profit margin decreased from 50.1% to 45.1% year-over-year, primarily driven by a lower Digital Platform Gross Profit Margin, due to an increase in promotions year-over-year, and the introduction of Brand Platform, which has a lower gross profit margin. The impacts were partially offset by an increase of In-Store gross profit margin.

Selling, general and administrative expenses by type (in thousands):

Third quarter 2019 demand generation expense increased 55.3% year-over-year to $34.3 million, or to 21.9% of Digital Platform Services Revenue, reflecting investments in customer acquisition and retention efforts to support the continued growth of Digital Platform GMV and Digital Platform Services Revenue. This increase contributed to the higher number of orders and Active Consumers as described above.

Technology expense, which is primarily related to development and operations of our platform features and services, and also includes software, hosting and infrastructure expenses, increased by $3.3 million, or 17.3%, year-over-year in third quarter 2019, driven by a 21.6% increase in technology staff headcount, which was partially offset by infrastructure cost efficiencies. We continue to operate three globally distributed data centers, which support the processing of our growing base of transactions, including one in Shanghai dedicated to serving our Chinese customers.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $29.1 million or 483.6% year-over-year from $6.0 million in third quarter 2018 to $35.1 million in third quarter 2019. Amortization expense increased principally due to amortization recognized on intangible assets acquired in recent acquisitions and continued technology investments, where qualifying technology development costs are capitalized and amortized over a three-year period. Depreciation expense also increased, driven by the first-time adoption of the new leasing accounting standard, IFRS 16, on January 1, 2019. We recognized $4.6 million of depreciation related to right-of-use assets in third quarter 2019. In third quarter 2018, the comparative expense for operating leases was included in general and administrative expense.

Share based payments decreased by $6.7 million or 17.5% year-over-year in third quarter 2019. This impact was due to a $44.6 million year-over-year increase in share based payment expense for equity settled awards, which was driven by a $27.4 million increase related to additional employee awards and $17.2 million from long-term employee incentives related to the acquisitions of Stadium Goods and New Guards Group. The $44.6 million increase was more than offset by a $51.4 million year-over-year difference between the quarterly adjustments to provisions for cash-settled payment awards, which are remeasured to their fair value based on our share price, and the related employment taxes. The year-over-year difference was driven by an increase in our share price during third quarter 2018, which resulted in a $32.0 million increase to the provision for the period, as compared to a decrease in our share price during third quarter 2019, which reduced our provision by $19.4 million for the current period.

General and administrative expense increased by $35.6 million, or 60.7%, year-over-year in third quarter 2019, reflecting the additional expenses related to Stadium Goods and New Guards Group, which both acquired during 2019, and an increase in non-technology headcount across a number of areas to support the expansion of our business. This was partially offset by a lower total employee cost per person and the impact of adopting IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019. General and administrative costs as a percentage of Adjusted Revenue decreased from 51.9% in third quarter 2018 to 41.2% in third quarter 2019, reflecting improved efficiency of our semi-variable and fixed costs, the addition of New Guards Group, which has a lower percentage of revenue, and the impact of adopting IFRS 16.

Other items totaled $22.2 million in third quarter 2019, primarily consisting of a net gain of $32.3 million related to the revaluation of liabilities held at fair value and impacted by movements in our share price, partially offset by $5.1 million of transaction-related legal and advisory expenses and $5.0 million loss on impairment of investments carried at fair value. The $32.3 million net gain described above resulted from a $53.8 million fair value revaluation gain from our partnership with Chalhoub Group, due to the remeasurement of the fair value of the non-cash consideration due to Chalhoub following the July 2019 completion of our previously announced partnership, partially offset by a $21.5 million fair value remeasurement charge for shares issued in the acquisition of New Guards Group. There were no such items in third quarter 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA loss increased by $3.3 million, or 10.3%, year-over-year in third quarter 2019, to $35.6 million, for the reasons described above. Adjusted EBITDA Margin improved from (28.7)% to (15.6)% over the same period, primarily reflecting lower Technology and General and Administrative expenses as percentages of Adjusted Revenue, as well as the impact of adopting IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019, as described above, and was partially offset by lower Gross Profit Margin and higher demand generation expense as a percentage of Adjusted Revenue.

Loss After Tax

Loss after tax increased by $8.2 million, or 10.6% year-over-year, in third quarter 2019 to $85.5 million. The increase was largely driven by the movements in Adjusted EBITDA, Depreciation and Amortization Expense, Share Based Payments and Other Items, as explained above, resulting in an increase in the operating loss from $76.8 million to $79.9 million, and the impact of unrealized foreign exchange losses on revaluation of non-United States Dollar denominated receivables and payables.

Acquisition of New Guards Group

In August 2019, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of New Guards Group for a total enterprise value of $675 million. The consideration was split equally between cash and Farfetch shares. Net of $102.8 million of acquired cash, total consideration included $256.1 million and 16.8 million shares. Pursuant to the sales and purchase agreement, an additional 10.7 million shares were issued in September 2019 to reflect a remeasurement of the initial estimated share consideration, resulting in a $21.5 million charge to other items. Purchase price allocations are expected to be completed in first quarter 2020, following customary adjustments. As of September 30, 2019, based on an initial analysis, we recognized goodwill of $183.5 million and Brand intangibles of $830.2 million, along with other assets of $90.2 million offset by liabilities of $241.4 million and minority non-controlling interests of $158.4 million. Goodwill is not subject to amortization and Brand intangibles will be amortized over an eight-year weighted average period.

Outlook

The following forward-looking statement reflects Farfetch’s expectations for fourth quarter 2019 as of November 14, 2019:

• Digital Platform GMV growth of 30% to 35% year-over-year
• Brand Platform GMV of $80 million to $90 million
• Adjusted EBITDA loss of approximately $(21) million to $(31) million

The expected Adjusted EBITDA loss for the period includes the estimated impact from the adoption of IFRS 16, which became effective on January 1, 2019.

Conference Call Information

Farfetch will host a conference call today, November 14, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company’s results as well as expectations about Farfetch’s business. Listeners may access the live conference call via audio webcast at http://farfetchinvestors.com, where listeners can also access Farfetch’s earnings press release and slide presentation. Following the call, a replay of the webcast will be available at the same website for 30 days.

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Alice Ryder

VP Investor Relations

[email protected]

Media Contacts:
Susannah Clark

VP Communications, Global

[email protected]
+44 7788 405224

Brunswick Group

[email protected]
US: +1 (212) 333 3810

UK: +44 (0) 207 404 5959

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