STRONG GROWTH IN THE STOCKMANN GROUP'S SALES IN APRIL 2005

STOCKMANN plc STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE May 10, 2005, at 15.45

STRONG GROWTH IN THE STOCKMANN GROUP'S SALES IN APRIL 2005

The Stockmann Group's sales in April were EUR 172.6 million, up 17 per cent on last year's figure. In April, there were two business days more in Finland than in April 2004. In addition, the Department Store Division's Crazy Days campaign in Finland was carried out completely in April whereas the first campaign day last year fell in March.

The best sales increase was reported by the Department Store Division, up 33 per cent. Growth in Finland was 27 per cent as against 58 per cent abroad. The strong growth in sales is attributable to the very successful Crazy Days campaign both in Finland and in the Baltic countries, the new department stores and fashion stores in Russia and the sound increase in the like-for-like sales in all the areas of operation.

Seppälä's sales were up 25 per cent. Sales grew by 20 per cent in Finland and by 65 per cent abroad. The good sales growth in Finland is comparable, except for the above-mentioned number of business days.

Sales by Stockmann Auto were on the same level as last year although the comparison figure includes the sales by the Volkswagen-Audi car dealership in Herttoniemi which was transferred to Kesko as from July 1, 2004. Comparable sales, stripping out the Herttoniemi dealership, grew by 22 per cent.

Sales by Hobby Hall fell 17 per cent short of last year's figure due to a change in the timing of mail order catalogues. Sales were down 20 per cent in Finland and abroad on the same level as last year, despite the winding up of the mail order business in Lithuania during the first part of the year. Sales grew vigorously especially in Latvia.

Sales figures in April and in January-April

April January-April January- December

20052004Ind.20052004Ind.2004
MeMe 05/04MeMe05/04Me
Department Store80.963.8127240.6228.0106746.1
Division, Finland Department Store 24.2 15.3 158 77.8 50.7 153 192.7 Division, international operations Department Store 105.0 79.1 133 318.4 278.7 114 938.8 Division, total
Stockmann Auto*41.040.8100137.4158.787437.1
Hobby Hall, Finland11.214.18060.060.1100180.4
Hobby Hall,2.72.710014.413.310834.0
international operations
Hobby Hall, total13.916.88374.473.4101214.4
Seppälä, Finland10.99.112036.935.1105128.3
Seppälä,1.71.01655.73.715515.4
international operations
Seppälä, total12.610.112542.738.8110143.7
Real estate +0.10.10.30.30.9
others Operations in 144.1 128.0 113 475.3 482.1 99 1 492.8 Finland, total International 28.5 19.0 150 97.9 67.8 145 242.1 operations, total Stockmann total* 172.6 146.9 117 573.2 549.9 104 1 735.0

* With the elimination of the sales by the unit transferred to Kesko on July 1, 2004, from Stockmann Auto's comparison figure for 2004, the division's sales in January-April were up 9 per cent and the consolidated sales were up 11 per cent.

STOCKMANN plc

Hannu Penttilä CEO

DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Exchanges Principal media





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