SWEDEN: Clothing Chain Lindex Up 16.9 Per Cent Over Nine Months

In its nine-month report, Swedish clothing retail chain Lindex reveals that profit after financial items increased by 16.5 per cent and amounted to SEK 234M (201). Profit after financial items in the Nordic countries rose by 23.2 per cent and amounted to SEK 310M (252). * In the third quarter of the financial year, profit after financial items increased by 12.4 per cent and amounted to SEK 59M (53). Profit after financial items in the Nordic countries for the same period rose by 20.3 per cent to SEK 90M (75). Lindex continues to take market shares on all geographic markets. * Lindex's sales in the first nine months of the financial year increased by 14.0 per cent to SEK 3,061M (2,685). Same-stores sales rose by 5.5 per cent (5.9). New stores contributed a sales increase of 8.5 per cent (6.2). Same-stores sales increase in Germany in the third quarter of the financial year amounted to more than 30 per cent. * In total, 26 (19) new stores were opened during the first nine months of the financial year, of which 13 (4) in Germany. * Lindex opens yet another establishment region in Germany, in Berlin. The first rental contract has been signed for a store with a prime location in Kurfurstendamm which is planned to open during November 2000.Lindex is a retail chain with 325 stores, of which 301 on the Nordic market and 24 stores in Germany. The Group's product segments are ladies' wear, lingerie, children's clothing and Lindex Care - cosmetics and bodycare products. Please visit