Preliminary figures as at 31 March 2016

At its meeting on 14 April 2016, the Supervisory Board of Fielmann AG approved the consolidated annual accounts for financial year 2015. In the reporting year, Fielmann increased unit sales, revenue and profit. The market leader sold 7.81 million pairs of glasses (previous year: 7.59 million spectacles), achieved external sales totalling € 1.51 billion (previous year: € 1.43 billion) and consolidated sales of € 1.30 billion (previous year: € 1.23 billion). Pre-tax profit rose to € 240.1 million (previous year: € 226.0 million) and net income/profit for the year went up to € 170.5 million (previous year: € 162.8 million). Earnings per share increased to €1.97 (previous year: €1.87).

The Supervisory Board and Management Board of Fielmann AG will recommend to the Annual General Meeting on 14 July 2016 to pay a dividend of €1.75 per share (previous year: € 1.60). This would represent the eleventh consecutive dividend payment increase. The dividend yield is therefore 2.6 % based on the closing share price for the year in 2015. The total dividend pay-out amounts to € 147.0 million (previous year: € 134.4 million).

The first three months of the 2016 financial year were characterised by the early arrival of Easter and one less shopping day. While the rest of the optical sector had to absorb a decline in unit sales against the same period last year of more than 2.0 per cent, Fielmann sold 1.87 million pairs of glasses again and, in doing so, was able to expand its market share. External sales totalled € 372.1 million (previous year: € 373.3 million) and consolidated sales were at € 316.4 million (previous year: € 317.1 million). Pre-tax profit amounted to € 54.1 million (previous year: € 62.8 million) and quarterly profit totalled € 38.2 million (previous year: € 44.5 million). Earnings in the same period of the previous year were positively influenced by non-recurring Swiss franc and U.S. dollar exchange rate developments.

Fielmann is confident for the rest of the year. In the second quarter there will be three additional shopping days. Fielmann is expanding its market position and rapidly advancing its expansion plans. Further branches are to be opened in Italy. Consumers buy from companies that guarantee the best service at reasonable prices, and in the optical industry, this means Fielmann.

The complete interim report will be published on 28 April 2016.

Hamburg, April 2016

Fielmann Aktiengesellschaft
The Management Board