EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) were up 18.5 percent on the previous year to EUR 9.6 million, while EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) climbed 13.4 percent to EUR 7.6 million. Earnings before tax (EBT) improved by 13.8 percent to EUR 6.6 million.
At 7.15 percent, the EBIT margin again exceeded the previous year's level. Net profit for the first quarter rose to EUR 3.7 million, up 15.6 percent on the previous year. DVFA earnings per share climbed from EUR 0.14 to EUR 0.16. Part of the improved profitability was passed on to retailers to compensate for the VAT hike.
This as well as the convincing collection policy, the excellent fit and the good sell-through ratios have made GERRY WEBER an indispensable element in the product ranges of many retailers focusing on the “Modern” and “Classic Woman” target group.
The number of employees climbed by 229 to 1,907 on January 31, 2007, with most new jobs created in the retail segment.
Growth momentum will also remain strong in the wholesale segment in 2006/2007. All three Group brands reported a strong increase in incoming orders for the first two programmes of the Autumn/Winter 2007/2008 collection. The 17.3 percent rise in orders for the GERRY WEBER brand is mainly attributable to the GERRY WEBER Edition sublabel, whose incoming orders were up by approximately 30 percent on the previous year.
TAIFUN Collection reported a 6.5 percent increase in orders as compared to the prior-year period, while orders for SAMOON Collection were up by a very satisfying 3.7 percent. The Group's total incoming orders were up 13.5 percent on the previous year, which is a clear indication of the strong growth momentum in the current fiscal year.
Gerry Weber International AG
marketing@alchempro.com
