Amer Sports offers technically advanced equipment and products that improve the performance of active sports participants. Its major brands include Wilson, Atomic, Suunto, Precor and Salomon. The Group's business is balanced by its broad portfolio of sports and presence in all major markets

http://www.amersports.com

STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE
October 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Amer Sports net sales, at EUR 1,050.6 million (1,081.3), decreased by 3%. In local currencies, net sales decreased by 7%. Net sales decreased by 14% in the Americas, were at last year's level in the EMEA region and decreased by 2% for Asia Pacific in local currency terms.
EBIT was EUR 4.4 million (43.7). Earnings per share came to EUR -0.11 (0.22). The weakened results reflect mainly the weaker profitability of Amer Sports in North America. Furthermore, last year's result includes a capital gain of EUR 13.1 million from sale of the company's corporate headquarters building.
In the recently completed rights offering, Amer Sports raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 160 million. A stronger balance sheet provides Amer Sports with financial, operational, and strategic flexibility that enables Amer Sports to execute its strategy.
The market outlook for Amer Sports has not changed during the third quarter. The company's guidance is unchanged: the Amer Sports full-year-2009 EBIT will be below last year's level. The expected improvement for Winter Sports Equipment due to previously implemented cost-efficiency measures is more than offset by weakness in other Amer Sports businesses.

  7-9/ 7-9/ Change   1-9/ 1-9/ Change 
EUR million 2009 2008 % %*) 2009 2008 % %*) 2008 
Net sales 410.6 433.2 -5 -6 1,050.6 1,081.3 -3 -7 1,576.6 
Gross profit 171.3 186.2 -8 -9 423.5 448.7 -6 -9 633.0 
EBIT 40.7 51.5 -21 -21 4.4 43.7     78.9 
Financing income and
expenses -2.3 -7.7     -11.3 -22.0     -33.3 
Earnings before taxes 38.4 43.8 -12   -6.9 21.7     45.6 
Net result 28.8 32.9 -12   -5.2 16.3     34.0 

Earnings per share,
EUR  0.38 0.45 -16   -0.11 0.22     0.47 

*) Change in local currency terms.

ROGER TALERMO, PRESIDENT AND CEO:
"The overall sales trend during the third quarter followed the one seen during the first half of the year. The US market continues to be more challenging than the European market, and consumers have been moving to value price points. Due to a warm fall in Central Europe, the trade requested later deliveries of pre-ordered winter sports equipment, which partly explains the decline in sales for Amer Sports of 6% in the third quarter.

"As we stated earlier, our key priority in 2009 is to strengthen the Amer Sports balance sheet. Our programs aimed at reducing inventories and receivables are currently ahead of the plan. With the recently completed rights offering, Amer Sports is well equipped to continue to implement its strategy, even if the macroeconomic recession is prolonged. 

"We do not anticipate a quick recovery of the sporting goods market, even if trading conditions would start to improve next year. Hence, we will continue to focus on strict cost control and we are planning to take our cost base further down in order to protect the Amer Sports bottom line. We are also considering alternatives to shift the focus of the business portfolio more towards categories where we believe the best long-term opportunities exist and where the best group-wide synergies can be achieved."

NET SALES AND EBIT IN JULY-SEPTEMBER
Net sales for Amer Sports, at EUR 410.6 million (433.2), showed a 5% decrease. In local currencies, net sales decreased by 6%.

Net sales by business segment were as follows: Winter and Outdoor 64%, Ball Sports 25%, and Fitness 11%. Sales for Winter and Outdoor decreased by 2%, for Ball Sports by 7%, and for Fitness by 19%. In local currency terms, Winter and Outdoor's net sales decreased by 2%, with Ball Sports sales decreasing by 9% and Fitness sales decreasing by 20%.

The distribution of net sales by geographical region was as follows: the Americas 40%, EMEA 50%, and Asia Pacific 10%. Sales in the Americas decreased by 12% and were at last year's level for EMEA. For Asia Pacific, net sales increased by 5%. In local currency terms, net sales decreased by 14% in the Americas and were at last year's level for both EMEA and Asia Pacific.

The Group's EBIT was EUR 40.7 million (51.5). The weakened results reflect mainly the weaker profitability of the North American operations of Amer Sports. 

Earnings before taxes were EUR 38.4 million (43.8), and earnings per share came to EUR 0.38 (0.45). Net financial expenses amounted to EUR 2.3 million (7.7), which included EUR 3.3 million in unrealized foreign exchange gains. 

NET SALES AND EBIT IN THE REVIEW PERIOD, JANUARY-SEPTEMBER
Amer Sports net sales, EUR 1,050.6 million (1,081.3), saw a decrease of 3%. In local currency terms, net sales decreased by 7%.

Net sales by business segment were as follows: Winter and Outdoor 51%, Ball Sports 36%, and Fitness 13%. Sales were at last year's level for Winter and Outdoor and Ball Sports. Net sales of Fitness decreased by 16%. In local currency terms, Winter and Outdoor's net sales were at last year's level, those of Ball Sports decreased by 7%, and Fitness' net sales decreased by 23%.

By geographical region, net sales were as follows: the Americas 44%, EMEA 45% and Asia Pacific 11%. Sales decreased in the Americas by 7% and were at last year's level for EMEA. For Asia Pacific, net sales increased by 6%. In local currency terms, net sales decreased by 14% in the Americas and by 2% for Asia Pacific but were at last year's level for EMEA.

The Group's EBIT was EUR 4.4 million (43.7). The weakened results reflect mainly the weaker profitability of Amer Sports North American operations. Furthermore, last year's result includes a capital gain of EUR 13.1 million from sale of the company's corporate headquarters building.

Earnings before taxes came to EUR -6.9 million (21.7). Earnings per share were EUR -0.11 (0.22). Net financial expenses, which amounted to EUR 11.3 million (22.0), included EUR 7.9 million in unrealized foreign exchange gains. 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
The Group's capital expenditure on fixed assets totaled EUR 21.5 million (23.1). The Group's depreciation figure was EUR 25.4 million (25.7). 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EUR 37.9 million (39.6) was invested in research and development, representing 3.6% of net sales.