03.03.2006 – 07:26

ESCADA AG

euro adhoc: ESCADA AG
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
ESCADA’s business performance for first quarter 2005/2006 in line with plan

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03.03.2006

Aschheim/Munich, March 3, 2006 - ESCADA AG recorded business
performance for first three months of fiscal year 2005/2006
(reporting date: October 31, 2005) in line with expectations.
According to preliminary figures, Group sales for the women’s luxury
fashion manufacturer were up from EUR 160.1 million to EUR 166.7
million, an increase of +4.1 % on the same quarter of last year.
Revenues generated by the ESCADA business area rose 3.4%, up from EUR
109.9 million to EUR 113.6 million, while the PRIMERA business area
recorded a 6.6 %-increase in turnover from EUR 49.8 million to EUR
53.1 million.

At 20.5 million, ESCADA’s consolidated earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the first quarter
2005/2006 exactly matched last year’s earnings for the same quarter.
Growth in sales and the 3.4%-improvement in gross profit margin were
offset by moderately higher operating costs (aggregate of personnel
expenses and other operating expenses) and lower operating income.
The increase in costs was essentially the result of the expansion of
BiBA retail chain, higher marketing expenses for the ESCADA brand as
well as exchange rate differences. With foreign exchange rates having
risen compared to last year, exchange rate differences positively
affected gross profits whilst affecting other operating expenses
negatively. The consolidated profit after taxes and minority
interests totaled EUR 6.2 million for the first quarter (vs. EUR 5.9
million, first quarter 2004/2005). Quarter comparison has to take
account of the fact that sales in last year’s quarter were positively
affected by shipments brought forward from the second quarter.

For fiscal year 2005/2006 the Board of Management estimates Group
sales to rise by a mid single-digit percent (2004/2005: EUR 648.6
million) and a further improvement of EBITDA (2004/2005: EUR 65.1
million).

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 02.03.2006 21:28:28

Further inquiry note:

Viona Brandt
Tel.: +49 (0)89 9944 1336
E-Mail: viona.brandt@de.escada.com

Branche: Clothing
ISIN: DE0005692107
WKN: 569210
Index: SDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Bayerische Börse / official dealing