Corporate | 10 July 2003 14:21

Ludwig Beck am Rathauseck english

gross consolidated turnover during the 1st six months of 2003 Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– gross consolidated turnover during the 1st six months of 2003 Improved turnover situation in 2nd quarter of 2002. New “long Saturday” opening hours get off to a promising start Munich, 10 July 2003. LUDWIG BECK AG, Munich (ISIN DE0005199905) succeeded in stabilising gross sales in the 2nd quarter of 2003 compared with the same period last year; the figure at Group level was EUR 20.2 million, as was last year’s figure. Business in June closed with a clear plus of 6.3 per cent, a contributory factor in this respect being the new Saturday opening hours which proved a success from the outset. As of 7 June, shops are now permitted to stay open till 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, a situation of which LUDWIG BECK is making full use. City-centre locations such as that of the company’s flagship store on Munich’s Marienplatz are reaping exponential benefit from this new legislation, and the proof lies in the fact that the Marienplatz store has been able to increase Saturday sales by an average 30 per cent. Sales between 4:00 p.m. (the old closing time) and 8:00 p.m. account for 35 per cent of the day’s sales on a continuous basis. At EUR 40.4 million, gross consolidated turnover during the 1st six months of 2003 is down by 2.4 per cent on the previous year’s figure of EUR 41.4 million for the same period. However, whilst sales in the 1st quarter were down by 4.8 per cent, the improved sales situation seen in the 2nd quarter has led to this percentage being reduced significantly. With sales growth of 40 per cent, the new “Hautnah” wellness and beauty department continues to develop positively. The detailed interim report is scheduled for publication on 6 August. Contact: Lothar Fiss, Press and Investor Relations Tel. +49(0)89 23691-663, Fax +49(0)89 23691-600 end of message, (c)DGAP 10.07.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 519990; ISIN: DE0005199905; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard) und München; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg und Stuttgart 101421 Jul 03