GUADALAJARA, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2024-- Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (NYSE:BWMX) ("BeFra" or the "Company"), announced today its consolidated financial results for the third quarter 2024. The figures presented in this report are expressed in nominal Mexican Pesos (Ps.) unless otherwise noted, presented and approved by the Board of Directors, prepared in accordance with IFRS, and may include minor differences due to rounding.

The Company will host a conference call at 5:30 pm (Eastern Time) today, October 24, to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2024.

Message from the Chairman

I am pleased to report that BeFra delivered another quarter of strong results, with Q3 net revenue growing 6.6% year-over-year and 7.4% year-to-date, reflecting solid performance across all business units, and reaffirming the strength of our strategic plan.

Betterware Mexico achieved its fourth consecutive quarter of net revenue year-over-year growth, consolidating its “back to growth momentum”, and paving the way for a stronger growth coming forward. Jafra Mexico continues to deliver exceptional growth, led by the continued execution of our acquisition business plan. Jafra US saw another consecutive quarter of growth, as we continue to find the road to success in the US market.

We are well-positioned for a strong close to the year, supported by key initiatives in Q4, including the improved re-design of the Jafra Mexico catalog, innovative merchandising at Betterware Mexico, and capitalizing the launch of our new Shopify+ website for Jafra US.

In terms of profitability, our Q3 AdjustedEBITDA grew an impressive 11.7% year-over-year, highlighting our ability to leverage our growth, and underscoring the relevance of a diverse product portfolio between our Betterware and Jafra brands. Strong profitability at Jafra Mexico helped offset temporary challenges at Betterware Mexico, where gross margin was temporarily impacted by the peso depreciation and higher freight costs. Despite these challenges in Betterware Mexico, it is important to mention that we have implemented corrective measures, expecting gross margin recovery starting in Q4, if no other external movements appear. This, together with our ongoing commitment seeking the maximum expense productivity, has led us to achieve great operating leverage with growth.

On a related note, we would like to stand out that our balance sheet remains strong, with an extraordinary 41.9% increase in Free Cash Flow in Q3 year on year, and the lowest Net Debt to EBITDA ratio since the Jafra acquisition.

All in all, BeFra’s momentum continues to strengthen within the consumer product goods and the direct selling industry, leveraging our pillars of innovation, business intelligence, and technology. Our evolving business model, cutting-edge brands, and financially strong business, empower our sales force and keep us ahead. With 24 years of constant double digit growth, we are not just on a sustainable growth path, we are poised to continue to thrive.

As we head into Q4, I am confident we will meet our full-year targets, driven by our strong teams and sound strategies. Our focus on growth, innovation, efficiency and profitability across all business remains unwavering, ensuring that we are well-positioned for long-term success.

Luis G. Campos
Chairman of the Board

This quarter, we are reporting adjusted EBITDA, Net Income and EPS to reflect the one-time effect of the sale of Jafra Mexico’s former headquarters on BeFra’s consolidated financial results. The sale resulted in a non-cash accounting loss of Ps. 435M as the property was sold for Ps. 385.7M, notably below its book value of Ps. 811M. The transaction price reflects the current market value of the asset. Essentially, this accounting loss does not impact on BeFra's operational performance. The sale will generate post-tax cash inflows of Ps. 315M over the next three years: Ps. 70M expected in November 2024, Ps. 135M in 2025, Ps. 85 in 2026, and Ps. 25.7M in Q2 2027. Excluding this non-recurring event, core EBITDA growth remains strong and continues to align with our strategic goals.

• Net Revenue Growth: Consolidated net revenue grew by 6.6% year-over-year in the third quarter and 7.4% for the first nine months of 2024, reflecting a consistent growth trajectory. All business units achieved YoY growth. Betterware Mexico marked its fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, while Jafra Mexico continues to excel, delivering a 9.2% YoY increase in the quarter.
• Robust EBITDA Growth: Adjusted EBITDA grew by 11.7% for the quarter and increased 5.3% for the first nine months. This reflects the resilience of core operations despite challenges which included exchange rate fluctuations and cost pressures, such as freight costs. The growth highlights the success of operational efficiencies achieved over the last year, strategic growth initiatives underway across all business units, and the group’s diversified portfolio of product categories.
• Free Cash Flow (FCF) Generation. Free Cash Flow (FCF) increased by 41.9% this quarter, largely driven by a more efficient working capital management. By shortening the Cash Conversion Cycle, BeFra is able to convert growing revenues into cash more quickly, resulting in stronger cash flow generation.
• Adjusted Net Income Contracted by8.4% in Q3, primarily due to an increase in tax provisions for the period. This impact could be temporary, with a potential reversal by year-end following the final calculation of the annual inflation effect. For the first nine months of the year, net income increased by 20.5%, mainly driven by a decrease in interest expense and a gain on FX forwards.

For more details, please refer to the results of each business unit in the following pages.

Unmatched Financial Strength and Performance

Strong balance sheet at the end of Q3 2024.

• BeFra’s balance sheet further strengthened in Q3 2024, with net-debt-to-EBITDA decreasing 15.5% YoY to 1.76x and interest coverage increasing 38.0% to 3.52x, providing greater financial flexibility to further reduce debt leverage, continue investing in growth and efficiency initiatives, and pay dividends.
• BeFra’s inventory increased 15.0% vs last year to prevent any supply chain disruptions that could affect our fulfillment capabilities for the Q4 season.

Our key financial metrics reflect our strength and show why to invest in BWMX:

Capital Allocation

Strategic Focus on Balance Sheet: BeFra’s balance sheet remains a priority. As of September 30, 2024, Net Debt-to-EBITDA was 1.76x, a decrease from 2.08x at the end of Q3 2023.

Quarterly Dividends and Shareholder Value: Considering BeFra’s results to date, management remains committed to enhancing shareholder value through quarterly dividends. The board of directors has proposed a Ps. 250 million dividend for Q3 2024, pending approval at the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting on October 28, 2024. This would mark the nineteenth consecutive quarterly dividend payment since BeFra’s IPO in March 2020. Future levels of dividend payouts are expected to meet this quarter's proposed amount, contingent upon BeFra’s financial performance and the ongoing debt repayment plan.

The Company has introduced a new investment policy to provide clear guidelines for the efficient and sustainable use of BeFra’s Free Cash Flow, fully aligned with strategic priorities. This policy reinforces BeFra’s commitment to fostering long term growth, maintaining a solid financial foundation, and delivering consistent value to shareholders. The leverage ratio has been set within a range of 1.5x to 2.5x Net Debt to EBITDA, depending on the growth opportunities that arise. FCF deployment will prioritize inorganic growth initiatives, while ensuring the appropriate allocation of resources for dividends and capital expenditures.

2024 Guidance and Long-Term Growth Prospects

Looking ahead, BeFra is well-positioned to deliver a strong year-end finish within the Company’s guidance range. While Revenue is expected within range, EBITDA for the full year will be closer to the lower end range due to the temporary impact on the margin of Betterware Mexico seen in the Q3.

Highlights

• Net Revenue Growth: Betterware Mexico achieved 3.2% year-over-year growth in Q3, marking its fourth consecutive quarter of annual growth, with a 5.7% increase for the first nine months. While growth slowed compared to the first half, the Company continues to gain overall momentum and expects a strong Q4.
  • Revenue growth was driven by a higher pricing mix, reflecting a shift toward higher priced items that drive Associates’ average monthly order. Net revenue was also significantly enhanced by the revamp of Betterware’s main categories: On the Go, Kitchen, Hygiene, Home Solutions and Food Preservation, each reflecting double-digit growth on a year-to-date basis.
  • Increased productivity among Distributors and Associates continues to be an important sales driver, rather than the expansion of Betterware’s sales force, with activity levels and average order values increasing YoY. The Company expects that the increased productivity will precede an expansion of the base.
• Temporary EBITDA contraction. Lower than expected sales and the decline in gross margin led to an EBITDA contraction in Q3 and YTD. Gross margin decreased by 148 bps YoY in Q3, and 262 bps year-to-date (YTD), mainly due to the Mexican peso depreciation (the Peso weakened relative to the US dollar by 14.5% from its lowest point in Q1 2024 and by 10.7% compared to the average seen in the first half of the year), and to the international freight costs, which surged by 154% from the beginning of the year. However, adjustments have been made and will be reflected in Q4, in addition to the fact that international freight costs have started to decline.
• Comprehensive financing costs include gains or losses from foreign exchange hedges used to mitigate currency risk related to purchases priced in USD. In Q3 2024, we recorded a Ps. 59M gain, bringing the year-to-date total to Ps. 93M. If hedge accounting had been applied, these gains would have increased the gross margin by 162 basis points in Q3 to 56.4%, and by 135 basis points year-to-date to 58.5%. The Company is evaluating initiating the process to transition to hedge accounting for FX risk management to more accurately reflect these gains or losses in the gross margin.

Q4 2024 Priorities

• Product Innovation: Betterware is launching an ambitious product innovation plan in Q4, with a robust pipeline in place for the rest of the year to ensure sustained growth and continued market relevance.
• Pricing Strategy: The Company is also implementing a comprehensive pricing strategy to protect margins while remaining competitive. This plan will enable Betterware to mitigate external cost impacts, maintain profitability, and strengthen its market position, further enhancing consumer loyalty.
• Incentives Program: The Associates and Distributors incentive program has been refined to better align rewards with performance, driving increase activity levels, as noted before.

International Expansion

• International operations. We continue to build a strong foundation and establish our presence in the U.S. and Peru, making progress with the strategic initiatives we have planned for each market.We anticipate initial tangible results and more relevant financial contributions from Betterware US by the end of 2025, reflecting investments and projects currently underway in this sizable market. Since these projects began, total investments in the U.S. and Peru have amounted to $80.2 million. Without these investments, Betterware Mexico's EBITDA would have been Ps. 1,047 million, representing an EBITDA margin of 23.3%.

Highlights

• High Single-digit Growth in Net Revenue. Net revenue for the third quarter increased by 9.2% YoY, also with a cumulative 9.8% increase over the first nine months. These results were primarily driven by YTD increases of 17.2% in Fragrances, 7.9% in Toiletries, and 6.4% in Cosmetics, reflecting the strong performance of Jafra’s best-selling products and key innovations such as the Gii fragrance and the new Dermocosmetic Skin Care line, BioLab.
  In Q3, the average Associate base contracted 2.8% year-over-year. Net revenue growth was driven by increased productivity and a higher average monthly order (+12.4%). While recruitment and retention remain priorities, the higher-value transactions from the existing Associate network are a positive indicator for future base growth.
• Exceptional Adjusted EBITDA Growth. Adjusted EBITDA grew significantly; 52.0% for the quarter and 38.4% year-to-date, driven by a combination of increased sales, improved gross margins, and operating expense efficiencies. Gross margin expanded by 274 bps for the quarter and 275 bps year-to-date, derived from higher volume manufacturing efficiencies.

Q4 2024 Priorities

• Product Innovation Plan: Jafra has a strong product innovation pipeline for the remainder of the year, with key launches planned. Product innovations introduced this quarter, including BioLab, have already gained market share, positioning Jafra well for continued growth.
• New Catalog Design: A new and improved catalog design was launched in October 2024, which is expected to have a strong impact of the sales growth.
• Enhanced Incentives Program Communication: Jafra’s incentive program communication is also being refined to boost sales force engagement and to drive sponsorship, recruitment, and Consultant retention to achieve sustained growth levels.

Highlights

• Jafra US Continues to Grow Net Revenues. The business has demonstrated a strong turnaround, delivering double-digit net revenue growth for the second consecutive quarter. Q3 net revenues increased by 11.7%, enabling 1.9% year-to-date growth. Strong Q3 revenue was primarily driven by higher productivity per Associate, and Associate base growth. Jafra US net revenues in USD grew by 3.4% during the quarter, reaching $12.7M, and by 3.2% for the first nine months of the year, totaling $38.4M. It is important to stand out that Jafra US successfully launched a Shopify e-commerce platform in September 2024; a technological development designed to enhance sales. The launch of this new platform temporarily affected our activity levels in September, due to a normal “new platform learning curve”, which we expect to be completed in October.
• Negative EBITDA Performance. Jafra US reporteda slightnegative EBITDA for the third quarter primarily due to decreased sales in September due to the new platform launch, and from a slightly reduced gross margin vs last year. However, we continue to reduce losses compared to last year, demonstrating progress related to stabilizing the business. While our focus on profitability is now mainly operational leverage from revenue growth, we continue to attack expense reduction strategies to optimize operational efficiencies.

Q4 2024 Priorities

• Brochure Revenue Growth: Q4 2024 growth will be led by further optimization of Jafra’s US brochure, which will include strategic pricing adjustments, refined pagination, and an enhanced promotion mix, together with improved design.
• Skincare Focus – BioLab Dermocosmetics: Jafra US is positioning BioLab Dermocosmetics as a flagship offering to more successfully access increasing demand for premium, science-based skincare. Jafra US expects to significantly boost skincare sector market share by promoting BioLab.
• Promotional Campaigns – “Power Week”: Jafra US is strengthening the execution of “Jafra Power Week”, a nationwide lead-generation campaign aimed at boosting recruitment of Associates and Consultants.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures
This announcement includes certain references to EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Net Debt:
EBITDA: defined as profit for the year adding back the depreciation of property, plant, and equipment and right of use assets, amortization of intangible assets, financing cost, net and total income taxes.
EBITDA Margin: is calculated by dividing EBITDA by net revenue.
EBITDA and EBITDA Margin are not measures recognized under IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, consolidated net income for the year as determined in accordance with IFRS or as indicators of our operating performance from continuing operations. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information and should note that these measures as calculated by the Company, may differ materially from similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
BeFra believes that these non-IFRS financial measures are useful to investors because (i) BeFra uses these measures to analyze its financial results internally and believes they represent a measure of operating profitability and (ii) these measures will serve investors to understand and evaluate BeFra’s EBITDA and provide more tools for their analysis as it makes BeFra’s results comparable to industry peers that also prepare these measures.

Definitions: Operating Metrics

Starting Q2 2024, the Company will report salesforce under the same name for all business units, Distributors (previously stated as Leaders in Jafra) and Associates (previously stated as Consultants for Jafra). It is important to note that the metrics are calculated with the same method as previous quarters and the reference name change has no adverse effect on the results of the operating metrics reported by the Company.

Betterware (Associates and Distributors)
Avg. Base: Weekly average Associate/Distributor base
EOP Base: Associate/Distributor base at the end of the period
Weekly Churn Rate: Average weekly data. Total Associates/Distributors lost during the period divided by the beginning of the period Associate/Distributor base.
Weekly Activity Rate: Average weekly data. Active Associates/Distributors divided by ending Associate/Distributor base.
Avg. Weekly Order: Average weekly data. Total Revenue divided by number of active Associates/Distributors

Jafra (Associates and Distributors)
Avg. Base: Monthly average Associate/Distributor base
EOP Base: Associate/Distributor base at the end of the period
Monthly Churn Rate (Associates): Average monthly data. Total Associates lost during the period divided by the number of active Associates 4 months prior. An Associate is terminated only after 4 months of inactivity.
Monthly Churn Rate (Distributors): Average monthly data. Total Distributors lost during the period divided by end of period Distributors’ base.
Monthly Activity Rate: Average monthly data. Active Associate/Distributor divided by the end of period Associate/Distributor base.
Avg. Monthly Order (Associates): Average monthly data. Total Catalogue Revenue divided by number of Associates orders.
Avg. Monthly Order (Distributors): Average monthly data. Total Distributors Revenue divided by number of Distributors orders.

About Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V.
Founded in 1995, Betterware de Mexico is the leading direct-to-consumer company in Mexico focused on offering innovative products that solve specific needs related to household organization, practicality, space-saving, and hygiene. Through the acquisition of JAFRA on April 7, 2022, the Company now offers a leading brand of direct-to-consumer in the Beauty market in Mexico and the United States where it offers Fragrances, Color & Cosmetics, Skin Care, and Toiletries. The combined company possesses an asset-light business model with low capital expenditure requirements and a track record of strong profitability, double digit rates of revenue growth and free cash flow generation. Today, the Company distributes its products in Mexico and in the United States of America.

Forward-Looking Statements

Q 3 2024 Conference Call
Management will hold a conference call with investors on October 24^th, 2024, at 3:30 pm Mexico City Time / 5:30 pm Eastern Time (EST). For anyone who wishes to join live, the dial-in information is:
Toll Free: 1-877-451-6152
Toll/International: 1-201-389-0879
Conference ID: 13749450

If you wish to listen to the replay of the conference call, please see instructions below:
Toll Free: 1-844-512-2921
Toll/International: 1-412-317-6671
Replay Pin Number: 13749450

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241024857063/en/

Company:
BeFra IR
ir@better.com.mx
+52 (33) 3836 0500 Ext. 2011

InspIR:
Investor Relations
Ivan Peill
ivan@inspirgroup.com

Source: Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V.