Operating result above previous year Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached 184.4 million EUR at the nine-month mark, following 174.7 million EUR the previous year.
The result from ordinary business activities totaled 109.3 million EUR after 101.6 million EUR a year earlier.
During the third quarter of 2004/2005 (04/01/05 - 06/30/05), Group EBITDA totaled 30.2 million EUR compared to 30.7 million EUR for the corresponding period one year earlier. The result from ordinary business activities was 3.8 million EUR during the third quarter of 2004/2005, following 6.1 million EUR the previous year. When considering this performance, it should be remembered that Easter fell earlier in 2005, as a result of which these holiday sales were included in the second rather than the third quarter this year.
58 new specialty stores opened in Germany and beyond The investment volume during the first nine months of fiscal 2004/2005 was 77.9 million EUR, after 78.0 million EUR the previous year. Of this expenditure, approximately 53 percent was devoted to the ongoing international expansion of the Douglas perfumeries. At June 30, 2005, the DOUGLAS Group's store network comprised a total of 1,535 branches (06/30/04: 1,497 – excluding Christ Switzerland).
Number of employees rises in Germany At June 30, 2005, a total of 18,577 staff was employed in the DOUGLAS Group (06/30/04: 17,884). Based on the current investment portfolio – i.e. including the employees at Pohland – the German workforce also grew by 822 compared to June 30, 2004.