In July, the Stockmann Group's sales continued their strong growth. The sales increased by 11 per cent to EUR 113.0 million. The best percentage increase in sales was reported by the Department Store Division, up 13 per cent. In Finland, the division's sales were up 6 per cent, while sales abroad were up 29 per cent. The strong growth in the foreign markets was contributed to by the particularly successful department stores in the Baltic countries and the department stores in the Mega shopping centres in Moscow, including the new department store, which opened there in February. Sales by the expanding Bestseller chain in Russia grew strongly as well. Sales by Seppälä were up 5 per cent. In Finland, after the good sales in June, the July sales were down 6 per cent, while sales abroad were up 47 per cent. The sales were speeded up by good like-for-like growth and the expansion of the retail network, especially in Russia. Sales by Hobby Hall were up 4 per cent. In Finland, sales were at the same level as in the previous year, while sales in the Baltic markets were up 40 per cent. Sales figures in July July January-July January- December change change 2007 2006 perc. 2007 2006 perc. 2006 Me Me 07/06 Me Me 07/06 Me Department Store 58.8 55.4 6.2 452.1 433.9 4.2 832.2 Division, Finland Department Store 29.0 22.4 29.4 177.9 150.4 18.3 286.9 Division, international operations Department Store 87.8 77.8 12.8 629.9 584.4 7.8 1 119.0 Division, total Hobby Hall, Finland 7.7 7.8 -0.3 89.2 89.6 -0.5 167.2 Hobby Hall, 1.3 0.9 39.8 21.5 17.9 20.4 32.6 international operations Hobby Hall, total 9.0 8.7 3.9 110.7 107.4 3.0 199.8 Seppälä, Finland 11.6 12.3 -5.8 68.3 69.9 -2.2 123.5 Seppälä, international 4.6 3.1 47.3 26.1 18.2 43.3 34.6 operations Seppälä, total 16.2 15.4 5.0 94.4 88.0 7.2 158.1 Real estate + others 0.1 0.1 -2.7 0.5 0.5 -8.8 0.9 Operations in Finland, 78.2 75.5 3.6 610.0 593.9 2.7 1 123.7 total* International 34.8 26.4 31.9 225.5 186.5 20.9 354.1 operations, total Stockmann total* 113.0 101.9 10.9 835.5 780.4 7.1 1 477.8 * The figures do not include the sales by the Stockmann Auto division that was divested at the beginning of March 2006. If the sales by Stockmann Auto in January-February 2006 are included in the comparison figures, the change of sales in per cent was: January-July 2007 change perc. Operations in Finland, total -8.8 Stockmann total -2.3 STOCKMANN plc Hannu Penttilä CEO DISTRIBUTION OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki Principal media