Corporate | 26 October 2006 07:00

Ludwig Beck am Rathauseck-Textilhaus Feldmeier AG: LUDWIG BECK remains on course for success – robust earnings growth in the first nine months

Corporate news transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Munich, 26.10.2006 – The LUDWIG BECK group (ISIN DE0005199905) was able to continue with its positive sales trend, adjusted for changes in floor space, in the first nine months of the financial year 2006. Gross sales, adjusted for changes in floor space, showed an overall increase of 1.5 %. Gross sales at group level amounted to EUR 67.8 million (previous year: EUR 68.5 million), representing a slight decrease of 1.0 % in sales. The industry as a whole showed a sideways trend with 0.0 %. Net gross earnings at group level increased slightly from EUR 27.2 million to EUR 27.3 million. The net gross earnings r atio increased to 46.7 % (previous year: 46.1 %). This represents an increase of 0.6 percentage points. The cost ratio (expenses set off against the corresponding income) was reduced by 0.4 percentage points compared with the previous year and amounted to 43.9 % (previous year: 44.3 %). Earnings also developed extremely positively. Thanks to its improved cost structure, LUDWIG BECK was able to increase its operating earnings (EBIT) in this period by EUR 0.6 million to EUR 1.7 million (previous year: EUR 1.1 million). Results from ordinary activities posted an even stronger improvement of EUR 0.8 million, amounting to EUR –1.1 million after nine months (previous year: EUR –1.9 million). The loss for the period before minority interests decreased in the same period by a total of 50 % and amounted to just EUR –0.5 million (previous year: EUR –1.0 million). In the first nine months, the number of employees (excluding trainees) in accordance with §267 para. 5, HGB (German Commercial Code) totalled 531 (previous year: 525). Weighted to take account of full-time staff, the number of employees at group level fell to 379 (previous year: 390). 50 trainees were on the LUDWIG BECK payroll as of the reporting date 30 September 2006 (previous year: 60). With developments in the first nine months of the year having gone according to plan, the LUDWIG BECK group is entering the last quarter, which is strong in terms of sales and earnings, in a positive frame of mind. Successful autumn and Christmas sales will contribute to healthy profits as of the year-end. One reason is that this year too, the ‘Store of the senses’ department store will again be transformed into a fantastic ‘Christmas House’ for the Advent period and will enchant its many visitors with a diverse spectrum of promotions. Also the behaviour of consumers in bringing major purchases forward to avoid higher VAT from January 2007 is likely to boost the demand in Q4 2006. LUDWIG BECK is not going to pass on the entire increase in VAT to its customers. The detailed 9-months report is being published parallel to this on the Internet at www.ludwigbeck.de/Finanzpublikationen. The printed version will be available as of 2 November 2006. The group’s key figures in EUR millions Gross sales (including VAT) 67.8 (previous year: 68.5); net gross earnings 27.3 (previous year: 27.2); earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) 4.3 (previous year: 4.0); earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) 1.7 (previous year: 1.1); investments 2.1 (previous year: 1.4); employees (as of reporting date 30.9) 548 (previous year: 532). Investor Relations contact: Buchanan Capital Group Metis-Corinna Tarta +49 8151 95966–25 m.tarta@buchanan-ag.com Ludwig Beck Accounts contact: Ludwig Beck am Rathauseck Martin Gehrke +49 89 23691–788 martin.gehrke@ludwigbeck.de (c)DGAP 26.10.2006 ————————————————————————— Language: English Issuer: Ludwig Beck am Rathauseck-Textilhaus Feldmeier AG Marienplatz 11 80327 München Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)892 36 91-0 Fax: +49 (0)892 36 91-6 00 E-mail: info@ludwigbeck.de WWW: www.ludwigbeck.de ISIN: DE0005199905 WKN: 519990 Indices: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service —————————————————————————