Amer Group still expects to be the number one sports equipment company in the world, but may have slipped in the second quarter in their drive to achieve that goal. Total company net sales in Q2 were impacted by the company’s withdrawal from the tobacco business in March, declining 9.6% to €225.7 million versus €249.6 million in the year-ago period.

Excluding the tobacco business and the effects of currency exchange, sales were down 4.2% for the period, or down 1.2% when measured in U.S. dollars. Amer’s divestment of the Tobacco business pushed the Americas to 64.8% of total company sales in the second quarter versus 58.3% in the year-ago period. Net income fell 48.9% to €4.6 million, or €0.19 per share, from €9.0 million, or €0.39 per share, in Q2 LY.

Sales in the Americas rose 6.5% when measured in U.S. dollars. EMEA sales, which include Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, fell to 22.4% of sales from nearly a third of total sales in last year’s Q2. Excluding the Tobacco business, EMEA sales were off 5.0% to €49.8 million. A/P sales were up nearly 30% to €28.8 million versus €22.2 million in Q2 last year.

The Winter Sports division focused on producing next season's lines during the second quarter of the year. Sales were up 7.0% to €7.6 million from €7.1 million in Q2 last year. The divisional EBIT loss increased 8.9% to €9.8 million ($11.8 mm).

For the first half, Winter Sports’ net sales 13% when measured in local currencies. Sales grew by 26% in EMEA and by 16% in the Americas. Sales of alpine skis grew by 7%. EBIT in the half was impacted by some investment in strengthening the distribution network, especially in Japan, where Winter Sports’ distribution has been transferred to Amer Sports Japan. Distribution in Japan has previously been handled by ASICS Japan.

Amer said the Winter Sports division’s pre-season orders are up approximately 9% versus the year-ago level. Winter Sports net sales for the year as a whole in local currencies are expected to grow by approximately 10%.

Suunto saw Q2 net sales increase 6.7% to €20.7 million from €19.4 million in the year-ago period. Division EBIT declined 10.5% to €1.7 million ($2.0 mm) from €1.9 million (2.2 mm) in Q2 2003.

For the first half, Suunto’s net sales grew by 2% measured in local currencies. Geographically, sales grew by 11% in the Americas and declined by 3% in EMEA. Sales of Suunto’s non-core product groups declined.

Sales of Suunto’s wristop computers were flat to last year, while sales of Suunto’s diving instruments grew by 15%. Wristop computers and diving instruments accounted for 60% of Suunto’s net sales versus 58% of sales in H1 last year.