Wolford AG — Earnings Release 2009

Aug 13, 2008

News Details

Ad-hoc | 13 August 2008 08:30

Wolford AG: Sales in the first quarter of the 2008/09 fiscal year

Wolford AG / Development of Sales

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Press Information

Sales in the first quarter of the 2008/09 fiscal year

Wolford posts further sales growth in the first quarter of 2008/09

• Sales up 4.6 percent compared to strong first quarter business in the
  previous fiscal year

• Expansion in almost all geographic markets

• Sales growth in all distribution channels

Bregenz, August 13, 2008

Following a successful 2007/08 fiscal year featuring an 11.3 percent rise
in total sales, and despite disproportionately strong sales growth in the
first quarter of the past fiscal year (up 16.9 percent), the Wolford Group
once again raised sales in the first three months of the current 2008/09
fiscal year. In the period May 1, 2008 – July 31, 2008, the Austrian luxury
brand increased sales by 4.6 percent in a year-on-year comparison, to EUR
31.9 million, up from EUR 30.5 million in the first quarter of the previous
year. Adjusted for currency effects, this corresponds to sales growth of
8.1 percent.

Sales increase in almost all geographic markets

In the first three months of the current fiscal year, sales of the Wolford
Group developed favourably in almost all its geographic markets. The brand
developed particularly positively, featuring double-digit growth in Central
and Eastern Europe, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian markets, France and
in the UK (in local currency). Sales also increased significantly in
Germany, Wolford’s traditionally largest market, and climbed slightly in
the USA (in local currency). On its domestic market of Austria, sales were
slightly below the previous year’s level.

Sales growth in all distribution channels

The Wolford boutiques (proprietary and partner-operated) registered a
slight sales increase in the first three months of 2008/09, based on a
disproportionately strong first quarter of the previous 2007/08 fiscal
year, which posted a 30.2 percent rise in sales.

The Wolford Group achieved gratifying sales growth in the first quarter
2008/09 especially with department stores and multi-brand retailers.

Outlook

In the upcoming months, Wolford will again focus on its strategic business
targets, i.e. the systematic enhancement of the Wolford brand and its
sustainable positioning in the luxury segment.

On the basis of the sales growth posted in the first quarter, the slight
increase in firm orders for the fall/winter season 2008/09 as well as
positive early feedback on the new spring/summer collection 2009, the
Executive Board of the Wolford Group expects a positive development in
sales and earnings for the current 2008/09 fiscal year as a whole, despite
a considerably more difficult business environment.

The above-mentioned information represents preliminary sales figures. The
final sales figures and the company’s performance for the first quarter of
the 2008/09 fiscal year will be announced on September 19, 2008.

Contact: Holger Dahmen, Chief Executive Officer

Peter Simma, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Investor@wolford.com

Wolford AG, Wolfordstraße 1, A-6901 Bregenz

                    +43 (0) 5574/690-0

                    www.wolford.com

13.08.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: Wolford AG
Wolfordstraße 1
6901 Bregenz
Österreich
Phone: +43/5574/6907434
Fax: +43/5574/6907440
E-mail: investor@wolford.com
Internet: www.wolford.com
ISIN: AT0000834007
WKN: 83400
Indices: ATX
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart; Open Market in
Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) Wien

End of News DGAP News-Service

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