HELLENIC DUTY FREE SHOPS'' Consolidated earnings after tax and minorities increased by 13.6% for 2006, reaching Euro 43.0 million from Euro 37.9 million in 2005. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached Euro 64.8 million compared to Euro 58.0 million in 2005, posting a 11.7% increase, while earnings before tax and after minorities reached Euro 59.1 million from Euro 56.4 million. Consolidated net earnings per share reached Euro 0.817 from Euro 0.719 (+13.6%). Finally, group sales reached Euro 300.0 million from Euro 261.5 million in 2005, increasing by 14.8%.
Commenting on the financial results, the Company''s Managing Director Mr. Dimitris Koutsolioutsos mentioned that: ''I feel very satisfied by the Company''s financial performance in 2006. These results came as a reward of our new strategy announced last May. We remain solid on our business plan, aiming at further strengthening the Company''s growth. I believe that 2007 will be a significant year for the Company''.
The subsidiary HELLENIC DISTRIBUTIONS S.A. also maintained its growth trend while it should be noted that since the beginning of August its financial results include the financials of the acquired LINKS LONDON Ltd. In particular, sales of HELLENIC DISTRIBUTIONS S.A. reached Euro 51.8 million and EBITDA reached Euro6.4 million, while excluding LINKS the respective figures are Euro 24.9 million and Euro 1.1 million.
Concluding, sales of the parent Company HDFS amounted to Euro 251.8 million from Euro 245.7 million in 2005, while EBITDA advanced to Euro 58.5 million from Euro 56.2 and net earnings to Euro 40.1 million from Euro 37.9.