Marcolin: positive first half results

For the Marcolin Group the first semester of the year closed with a double-digit growth in terms of sales expansion. Satisfaction is expressed by the Group's management for the recovery in sales achieved in the USA, in spite of the euro being still strong against the American currency.

Compared with the first six months of last year, the preliminary consolidated results recorded an important growth by about 13%. In particular, the turnover achieved by Marcolin Usa expressed in dollars, shows an increase by about 17% compared with the same period of 2003 (about +8% the turnover in Euro).

As regards the other geographical areas, a significant increase in the sales made by the parent company Marcolin SpA, (about +16%) and by the other European subsidiaries, in particular in France (about +30%), Spain (about +17%) and Germany (about +15%), is to be recorded.

The turnover analysis according to product line confirms the continuous increase of the Dolce&Gabbana Eyewear and the D&G Dolce & Gabbana Eyewear collections, as well as of the Roberto Cavalli Eyewear collection.

'Never like in these past six months have our collections recorded such a success, and this makes us enthusiastic and motivated for the future, especially considering the current economic and consumption crisis; as evidence shows, Marcolin's great efforts to make the most of the fashion and luxury world brands, is the winning strategy, and we must continue along this line. I believe that this is our major asset and, therefore, I am confident that the Group can confirm, in the next months, too, such positive results", Maurizio Marcolin, Managing Director of the Group for the style and licenses area, has commented.

It should be noted that these are preliminary not audited data, which shall be approved by the board of directors in the week of September 6, 2004.