adidas Group reported that currency-neutral sales grew 40% in the first quarter of 2006, mainly driven by the first-time consolidation of the Reebok business segment. Sales for the adidas Group excluding Reebok increased 13% on a currency-neutral basis supported by higher sales in all regions. In euro terms, Group revenues grew 47% to €2.46 billion in the first quarter of 2006 from €1.67 billion in 2005. Sales for the adidas Group excluding Reebok grew 19% in euro terms to €1.99 billion in 2006 from € 1.67 billion in the prior year.


“The adidas Group has got off to a powerful start in the first quarter of 2006,” commented adidas-Salomon AG Chairman and CEO Herbert Hainer.” Both adidas and TaylorMade-adidas Golf delivered excellent top- and bottom-line results, and Reebok sales clearly outperformed order backlogs.”

The adidas segment set the pace for the Group’s organic sales growth in the first quarter of 2006. Currency-neutral adidas revenues increased 12% during the first three months. Drivers of this growth were significant increases in nearly all Sport Performance categories as well as double-digit growth in the Sport Heritage and Sport Style divisions. The Reebok segment, which was consolidated for the first time in the first quarter of 2006, contributed €454 million to adidas Group sales. At TaylorMade-adidas Golf currency-neutral revenues increased 26%. This positive performance was driven by strong double-digit growth in all major categories and the first-time inclusion of the Greg Norman apparel business. Currency translation effects positively impacted sales at all brands in euro terms.

adidas sales in euro terms increased 17% to €1.78 billion in the first quarter of 2006 from €1.51 billion in 2005. TaylorMade-adidas Golf sales in euro terms grew 34% to €201 million in 2006 from €149 million in 2005.

 

2006[i]

2005[ii]

Change y-o-y
in euro terms

Change y-o-y
currency-neutral

 

€  in millions

€ in millions

in %

in %


adidas

1,776

1,512

17

12


Reebok[iii]

454

505

(10)

(16)


TaylorMade-adidas Golf

201

149

34

26


Total

2,459

1,674

47

40

Group sales by brand in 2006, “Total” includes HQ/Consolidation


 



[i]
 
Including Reebok business segment from February 1, 2006 onwards.


[ii]
 
Figures reflect continuing operations as a result of the divestiture of the Salomon business segment in 2005.


[iii]
 
Only includes two months of the three-month period in the first quarter of 2006. The relevant figures for the two-month period of 2005 were not consolidated within the adidas Group in 2005 and are therefore not included in the total. Reebok prior year results are based on US-GAAP figures and not IFRS.

Regional Results

First quarter adidas Group sales in Europe grew 20% on a currency-neutral basis, mainly reflecting the first-time consolidation of the Reebok segment as well as increases at brand adidas. This represents an improvement of 21% in euro terms to € 1.067 billion in 2006 from € 881 million in 2005. In North America, Group sales during the first quarter increased 94% on a currency-neutral basis. This development represents the highest first quarter growth rate since the IPO in 1995 and reflects the first-time consolidation of the Reebok segment as well as double-digit increases at both adidas and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. In euro terms, sales increased 113% to € 759 million in 2006 from € 357 million in 2005. Sales for the adidas Group in Asia increased 28% on a currency-neutral basis in the first quarter of 2006, driven by strong double-digit increases at adidas and TaylorMade-adidas Golf as well as the first-time consolidation of the Reebok segment. In euro terms, revenues in Asia grew 34% to € 474 million in 2006 from € 354 million in 2005. In Latin America, currency-neutral sales increased 58% in the first quarter. This development mainly reflects strong increases at brand adidas as well as the first-time consolidation of the Reebok segment. In euro terms, sales grew 85% to € 126 million in 2006 from € 68 million in 2005.

 


20061


20052


Change y-o-y
in euro terms


Change y-o-y
currency-neutral

 


€  in millions


€  in millions


in %


in %

Europe


1,067

881

20

21

North
America


759

357

113

94

Asia


474

354

34

28

Latin
America


126

68

85

58

Total


2,459