Interim report as at 30 September 2016

With consumer-friendly services, glasses at a reasonable price and comprehensive guarantees, Fielmann increased unit sales in the first three quarters of 2016 to 5.90 million pairs of glasses (previous year: 5.77 million pairs of glasses), while external sales including VAT improved to € 1,174.6 million (previous year: € 1,149.7 million) and consolidated sales rose to € 1,009.3 million (previous year: € 986.7 million). Pre-tax profit totalled € 186.8 million (previous year: € 193.4 million), while profit after tax amounted to € 132.5 million (previous year: € 137.5 million).

In the third quarter, Fielmann improved unit sales to 1.98 million pairs of glasses (previous year: 1.97 million pairs of glasses). External sales including VAT grew to € 402.7 million (previous year: € 395.1 million) and consolidated sales rose to € 348.9 million (previous year: € 342.3 million). The quarterly pre-tax profit amounts to € 70.1 million (previous year: € 77.0 million) and profit after tax totalled € 49.7 million (previous year: € 54.8 million).

At the end of the third quarter, Fielmann employed 17,928 members of staff (previous year: 17,318), of which 3,251 are trainees (previous year: 3,104). With a 5 per cent share of specialist optical stores, Fielmann accounts for more than 40 per cent of all trainees in the optical industry in Germany. Our trainees are the opticians of tomorrow.

Fielmann is continuing its expansion. Over the course of the year, the Group will open additional shops, enlarge existing shops, move to better locations and equip further branches with hearing aid departments. Fielmann is confident of being able to expand its market position. Consumers buy from companies that guarantee high quality at reasonable prices: in the optical industry, this means Fielmann. In the fourth quarter, Fielmann anticipates a rise in unit sales and revenue corresponding to that seen in the first nine months of the year. For 2016, Fielmann anticipates a pre-tax result slightly below the previous year’s figure and the creation of over 500 new jobs.

Hamburg, October 2016

Fielmann Aktiengesellschaft
The Management Board