Interim Report Q1 - 2009/2010 (10/01/09 – 12/31/09) Click here for full details of the company's performance and activities during the first three months of the fiscal year 2009/2010. more >>

Group sales higher by 0.5 percent over prior year:

• Sales performance favorably impacted by first time full consolidation of buch.de internetstores AG as of December 1, 2009
• Like-for-like sales in Germany in line with prior year; decline abroad due to ongoing challenging economic conditions

Earnings before taxes rise by 9 million EUR to 142 million EUR:

• Earnings positively affected by one-off income effect from the revaluation of shares previously held in buch.de in the amount of 6.1 million EUR
• Higher earnings contribution from Thalia
• Christ and AppelrathCüpper at prior year's level
• Earnings from Douglas perfumery and Hussel slightly below last year's level

Solid financing and capital structure:

• Net bank credit amounts to 64 million EUR as of December 31, 2009 following net bank debt of 13 million EUR one year earlier
• Free Cash Flow up 33 million EUR to 228 million EUR
  

Annual forecast unchanged:

• Sales growth between 0 and 2 percent
• Earnings before taxes (EBT) between 120 and 130 million EUR