Bénéteau notes good growth in six-month figures
By IBI Magazine
Groupe Bénéteau has posted a sales increase of 18.4 per cent to €377.8 million in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year.
The figure includes €29.1 million for IRM, a mobile home manufacturer which was consolidated in the group's accounts as of January 1, 2007.
The French group says this growth was driven by all its activities. For its Bénéteau, Jeanneau, CNB-Lagoon and Wauquiez boats, it noted a 6.1 per cent increase over last year in sales, which reached €290.7 million. This growth came mostly during the second quarter, which nearly doubled the 4.4 per cent growth rate of Q1.
For its Microcar and O'Hara brands, the group noted a leap in sales of 28.3 per cent to €58 million compared to €45.2 million the previous year.
Bénéteau says current order book levels for its boat business represent more than 90 per cent of sales expected for the entire current financial year. As a result of the increases achieved in both Europe and the US in relation to last year, it stands by its annual forecast of an 8.1 per cent growth in boat sales.
With its other activities also moving in a positive direction, the group has re-confirmed its annual forecast of €970 million in consolidated sales.
(30 March 2007)
|
