The big names in fashion: alternating trends
Benetton adds higher value proposals to its product mix and invests in countries with strong potential for development, which have increased its revenues for the six months by 2.9%. Aeffe has announced a 2.1% increase thanks to its core labels, Alberta Ferretti and Moschino. Billings are down for Mariella Burani Fashion Group, It Holding and Stefanel. 
During the first half of the year, Mbfg had a turnover of Euro 325.3 million compared to 346.3 for the same period 2007: according to top management, the downturn is due to the sale of the multi-brand retail division last June (organic growth was in excess of 9%). Pretax profits rose from 9 to 12.8 million. Three operations carried out by the company included the recent launch of the partial acquisition offer (for 15% of the capital at Euro 17.5 per share) by the Mariella Burani Family Holding controlled by Burani Designer Holding, the company owned by the family from Emilia which is listed on London's Aim market and also invests in cosmetics, food and herbal products. The holding managed by Tonino Perna, which controls the Gianfranco Ferré, Malo and Exté brands, saw a 4.7 percentage point downturn in sales this half-year, a total of Euro 304.3 million (-2.6% at constant exchange rates). The net result was negative at Euro 9.9 million compared to previous profits of 1.8 million: however, the president is confident about the year as a whole, which is estimated to end in line with 2007.
With Moschino at +8.4% and Alberta Ferretti at +5.7% (at constant exchange rates), Aeffe's turnover at the end of the half-year stood at Euro 146.5 million. The net result rose from Euro 4.64 to 6 million.
For Benetton, turnover for the six months rose to Euro 996 million (+5.1% in comparable periods) and net profits increased to 72 million compared to the previous 70 million. Based on these figures, the company in Ponzano Veneto confirmed its objective of increasing annual revenues by 6% and Ebitda and Ebit by +7%. The Stefanel Group ended the period with sales totaling Euro 139.4 million, a downswing of 6.4%, and with the Stefanel brand at -2.6% (at constant exchange rates the figure is the same as that for the first half-year 2007). The Interfashion subsidiary was penalized by the termination of the Marithé + François Girbaud license; although scheduled to be replaced by the launch of the new High line, falloff for the latter stood at 14.6%. The situation was the reverse for airport retail (Noel-Nuance Group), but total profits for the period were negative at almost Euro 14 million.
The end of summer six-month results included the silk group, Ratti, which is concluding integration operations at its facilities in Guanzate, Malnate and Oleggio. The company's billings dropped to Euro 49.2 million (-7%), but losses decreased from 4.2 to 3.9 million. In the household linen sector, which has been penalized by a general downturn in consumption, Zucchi's revenues dropped to 110.8 million (-8.8%), with liabilities increasing from Euro 3.1 to 11.6 million. In the hosiery and lingerie sectors, Csp (Sanpellegrino, Oroblù and Lepel brands) had consolidated turnover of over Euro 53 million. Although the group recently strengthened its corsetry segment with the acquisition of Liberti, it ended the first six months of the financial year with a negative result of 0.5 million (from profits of 1.6 million), which was affected by increased investments in advertising and marketing of about 3 million.
(Source: Fashion Magazine)
