STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- New Wave Group AB:
-- During January-Mars sales increased by 10% to SEK 517 (469) m. -- Profit after net financial items decreased by SEK 26.1 m. to SEK -8.5 (17.6) m. -- Profit after tax decreased to SEK -7.2 (13.3) m. and profit per share decreased to SEK -0.23 (0.45). -- The Corporate Profiling business area's sales increased by 23% to SEK 348 (284) m. Profit on EBITDA-level decreased by SEK 8.9 m. to SEK 6.5 (15.4) m. -- The Retailing business area's sales decreased by 9% to SEK 169 (185) m. Profit on EBITDA-level increased by SEK 14.6 m. to SEK 0.9 (15.5) m. -- Profit after net financial items deteriorated, due to new establishments, by SEK 11.3 m, the acquisition of Dahetra SEK 3.3 m. and lower sales than expected. -- The lower sales is due to increased price competition and current lower prices due to the USD currency, which gives deflation within certain article groups, and due to the fact that Easter holiday was in March instead of April. The market has also been less good than expected where the lower sales of winter garments from last year still was the same. During Q1 2004 the subsidiary Sko-Team had fire smoke damaged shoes on sale which increased sales. -- The acquisition of Dahetra consolidated 1 January. The Dahetra sales was SEK 83 m. 2004. -- The board proposes to increase the dividend to SEK 1.50 (1.25) totaling to SEK 47.3 m. Further more the board has proposed a split 2:1. -- New Waves earlier forecast about increased profit and sales for 2005 remains, in spite of a deteriorated quarter. The two most important quarter is still Q2 and Q4. -- New 5-year creditability facility of SEK 2.100 m.
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