ots Ad hoc-Service: Zapf Creation AG <DE0007806002>
Rödental (ots Ad hoc-Service) -
Ad hoc-announcement edited and sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement.
Dolls and accessories by Zapf Creation enjoy substantial profit growth Zapf Creation AG, Rödental, Germany. Europe's leading manufacturer of play dolls and functional dolls, today announced that its profits increased to EUR 8.2 million during the first three quarters of the business year 2000, up 31 percent from the EUR 6.3 million recorded during the same period last year. While sales Increased by almost 14 percent from EUR 91.5 million to EUR 103.9 million, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) went up 17 percent from EUR 10.8 million to EUR 12.6 million. Earnings before taxes (EBT) even improved by 25 percent from EUR 9.2 million EUR 11.4 million. Earnings per share grew by almost 31 percent from EUR 0.78 to EUR 1.02. "Despite the stronger dollar, we were also able to further improve our gross margin. This is primarily due to our strong focus on our core business segment Play Dolls and Functional Dolls and a systematic reduction of the Maritim and Others segment", said Rudolf Winning, chief financial officer of Zapf Creation AG.
Rodental, Germany, 07 November 2000
Notes: Since January 2000, Zapf Creation AG has been preparing its financial statements according to US-GAAP. The figures for the 1999 business year have been reconciled to US-GAAP.
For further information, please see our detailed press release, which is also published today, or contact Monika Colee, Head of IR/PR of Zapf Creation AG at +49 (0)9563/725-195.
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