Press
release
Pages
1, 2, 3,
4, 5,
6
Swatch
Group: Sales exceed CHF 5 billion for the first time - Best Group results
of all time and the outlook remains optimistic
• Gross
sales up by + 12.3 % to a record CHF 5 050 million.
• Strong growth in all Group segments, especially in the Watches and
Jewelry segment.
• Mildly positive currency effects in 2006 (+ 0.6 %).
• Strong cash flow, above-average increase in operating result and Group
net income expected.
• Optimistic outlook for current year.
Group
Overview
All Group
segments reported record sales last year. As in previous years,
the most substantial sales growth was in the luxury watches segment,
which once again enjoyed strong demand last year.
The Production segment benefited directly from the strong demand in
the Watch segment. The favorable product mix towards more complex mechanical
watch movements enabled it to achieve strong growth.
Sales in the Electronic Systems segment recorded a marked increase due
to continuing high demand for components produced by the Group companies.
Sales increased by +9.0% compared to the previous year.
There was a slightly positive currency effect in 2006 (+0.6%). The positive
effect of the first half of the year was almost entirely eliminated
in the second half of the year due to the weak performance of the USD
and the Yen.
A further decrease in unit sales of watches, movements and stepping
motors by approximately 55 million units can be attributed mainly to
the strong reduction in watch movements in the lowest price category
manufactured and sold in the Far East. Production in Malaysia has now
come to a halt.
Contacts
Edgar Geiser, CFO, et Thomas Dürr, Corporate Treasurer
The Swatch Group AG, Biel-Bienne
Tél. +41 32 343 68 11, fax +41 32 343 69 16
e-mail : investor.relations@swatchgroup.com
Béatrice
Howald, Head of PR/Press, Swatch Group
+41 32 343 68 33, Fax +41 32 343 69 22
E-mail: press@swatchgroup.com